Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s title bout against Keith Thurman on July 20 has been touted as the Most Important Fight of 2019.
The 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao battles for the unified welterweight crown against the 30-year-old Thurman in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In an article posted July 4, Forbes magazine highlighted the uniqueness of Pacquiao’s title fight against other big fights scheduled for the rest of the year. “All of those fights are big, but none of them have as much current and historical relevance as Pacquiao-Thurman,” wrote Forbes contributing writer Brian Mazique.
Forbes notes for one thing, the Pacquiao-Thurman match will result in a unified World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight title.
Pacquaio holds the WBA interim title after winning the WBA Welterweight Championship in a Knock Out match against Lucas Matthysse in July 2018.
The Filipino Pacman won his 61st bout via unanimous decision against 29-year-old American Adrien Broner in January 2019.
Thurman held his WBA title since 2015.
When Pacquiao and Thurman meet the result will be just one Welterweight champion. The bout will pave the way for the winner to face off with the International Boxing Federation’s own unified champion later this year. The latter fight is eyed to allow for a potential unified title for all four world boxing governing bodies.
“Perhaps more important than the immediate ramifications to the sport is the fact that the Thurman-Pacquiao fight will be a pivotal one for the Filipino legend’s career. If Pacquiao wins, the 40-year-old will have silenced all of his doubters. He will have added even more credibility to his current status as an elite fighter.
“If he is to have any chance of luring Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of retirement, perhaps the extra push generated by a victory over Thurman could entice Money to return to the ring for the mega-rematch,” according to Forbes.
“With so much at stake, this bout has become a must-see for any boxing fan with an interest in today’s welterweight scene, and a sense of history as it pertains to a legend still competing past his 40th birthday.”
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